Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

छन्दः प्रोक्तं च गायत्री देवता विष्णुख्ययः । ॐ बीजं यं च तथा शक्तिर्विनियोगोऽखिलाप्तये ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

chandaḥ proktaṃ ca gāyatrī devatā viṣṇukhyayaḥ | oṃ bījaṃ yaṃ ca tathā śaktirviniyogo'khilāptaye || 4 ||

Translation

Le mètre (chandas) est déclaré être le Gāyatrī ; la divinité présidante est Celui qui est renommé Viṣṇu. La syllabe-graine (bīja) est Oṁ ; « yaṁ » est également dite être la Śakti ; et son application (viniyoga) vise l’obtention de tous les accomplissements.

Word by Word

• छन्दः: the meter
• छन्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रोक्तम्: is said/declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; धातु: वच् (to say)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• गायत्री: Gāyatrī
• गायत्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• देवता: the deity
• देवता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• विष्णुख्ययः: named ‘Viṣṇu’
• विष्णुख्ययः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु + ख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः ख्यः = named as Viṣṇu)

• ॐ: Oṃ
• ॐ: Sambandha (मन्त्राङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रणव (sacred syllable)

• बीजम्: the seed (syllable)
• बीजम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• यम्: which
• यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'thus/likewise')

• शक्तिः: the śakti (power)
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• विनियोगः: the application/assignment (ritual use)
• विनियोगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनियोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अखिलाप्तये: for the attainment of all (goals)
• अखिलाप्तये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल + आप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अखिलस्य आप्तिः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Gayatri
• Om

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It codifies the mantra’s essentials—metre (chandas), deity (devatā), seed (bīja), power (śakti), and application (viniyoga)—showing that correct mantra-vidhi aligns sound, intention, and devotion toward Viṣṇu for complete attainment.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By naming Viṣṇu as the devatā and prescribing a focused viniyoga, it frames mantra-recitation as disciplined worship: devotion becomes effective when directed to the Lord with proper ritual and inner intent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Chandas (prosody) is explicit via the Gāyatrī metre, and the verse also demonstrates applied mantra-śāstra conventions (bīja–śakti–viniyoga), a technical toolkit used in Vedic and tantric-style ritual manuals.